Plans afoot for a ‘Greylock Market’ at Western Gateway

An interesting group of investors is pitching a new idea for the Western Gateway Heritage State Park. The plan would turn it into some kind of artisanal emporium, which would link the often overlooked facility behind the Hoosic River and the Hadley Overpass with the rest of downtown and Mass MoCA.

[Developers] said the park — including the former Sons of Italy property purchased by the city earlier this year, the footbridge (expected to be part of the bike path) to West Main Street, and the two city-owned houses on West Main — will be transformed into a mixed-use center including retail, artisan production spaces, 15-20 residential units and event programming.

Artisans ranging from cheesemongers to woodworkers will be able ply their trades in view of visitors and have access to a central retail marketplace. Longtime tenant Freight Yard Pub would partner with a microbrewery. The residential units will be marketed to artisans, similar to the way Eclipse Mill is marketed to artists, to create a community of artisans.

The market would also have a cafe or coffee shop and community kitchen, and link to resources including Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Arts, the new Berkshire Scenic Railway rides, the planned extension of the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail and the downtown.

As with any big, visionary project around here, we should keep our fingers crossed, but probably shouldn’t hold our breath.